Method of hydrating dolomitic limes



Aug. 29, 1944. w. D. GARVIN 2,355,760

METHOD OF HYDRATING DOLQMITIC LIMES Filed Jan. 51, 1941 COMPRESSED SAFETY .14 2., VALVE.

STEAM EXPANSION TANK.

BLOW- OFF VALVE CHARGE.

Zhwentor (Ittornegs Patented Aug. 29, 1944 2,356,760 I METHOD OF HYDRATING DOLOMITIO LIMES William D. Garvin,

to the Standard Charlestown, W. Va... assignor Lime and Baltimore, Md., a corporation Stone Company, of Maryland Application January 31, 1941, Serial No. 376,919

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of hydrating dolomitic lime, the method providing a single stage hydration resulting in a dry dolomitic lime hydrate in which both the calcium oxide and the magnesium oxide are so nearly completely hydrated as to be entirely satisfactory for commercial purposes. The cost of apparatus is not prohibitive and the time of treatment is comparable with that required for hydration of calcium limes.

Hydration of the constituents of lime is accomplished by marked expansion. Prior art commercial methods of hydrating dolomitic limes resulted in only partial hydration of the magnesium oxide constituent because the reaction time for hydrating the magnesium oxide is much longer than that for hydrating the calcium oxide and the time allowed in commercial processes was inadequate. Slow hydration and consequent expansion, occurring after use in mortars and plasters, have given trouble and have created considerable objection to dolomitic limes.

The invention takes advantage of the fact that the rate of hydration of magnesium oxide increases with temperature and pressure. This increase of rate is quite rapid-as temperature is raised from ordinary atmospheric temperatures to 100 C. but the increase is less rapid and gradually slackens above this temperature. At a temperature of nearly 183 0. (say 361 F.), which .30

corresponds to a saturated steam pressure of approximately 140 lbs. gauge, the reaction is suillciently rapid for commercial purposes so that there is no practical advantage in operating at higher pressures. At the temperature and pressure stated about 90% of the magnesium oxide can be converted to the hydrate in a period between fifteen and twenty temperatures and corresponding higher pressures have the effect of shortening the time somewhat, the gain is not commercially important, and furthermore the cost of the heavier and stronger apparatus is not economically justifiable. Furthermore, the higher temperatures commonly have the effect of impairing the working qualities of the hydrated lime for use as plaster, particularly as to finish qualities.

The invention provides a means for developing the desired temperature and pressure without the use of any extraneous source of heat,so that dolomitic lime can be substantially completely hydrated in a single stage at a commercial rate and at a cost which renders the process commercially attractive. The period of twenty minutes above stated corresponds to the usual commercial practice in the industry where lime is hydrated by minutes. While higher lindrical shell previously known methods. Within this time period, according to past practice, the conversion of magnesium oxide into the hydroxide was rarely as high as 15% and usually was much less. To increase the percentage of magnesium oxide converted required a prohibitive increase in the time of treatment using prior art procedures.

Because of this fact attempts have been made in the prior art to provide for a second stage of hydration in which a partially hydrated dolomitic lime is treated with steam under pressure in an autoclave for the purpose of hydrating the remaining magnesium oxide. This is a two-stage process, which is inconvenient, slow and needlessly expensive.

As a basis for describing the preferred procedure in greater detail reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which shows a device suited for practising the invention in elevation, with parts broken away to show the internal construction.

The apparatus comprises a fixed horizontal cyi closed at its ends by heads 2 and 3. Extending axially through the shell is a shaft a which is sustained in bearings 5 outside the shell. Suitable pressure retaining means are provided in the glands 8 and l to prevent serious leakage around the shaft where it passes through the heads 2 and 3. At the top of the shell I, preferably at mid-length, is the charging opening 8 provided with a tight-fitting, pressure retaining cover, as indicated in the drawing. Immediately below the charging opening 8 is the discharge opening 9, likewise provided with a tight-fitting closure, as shown. Both the closures above mentioned are preferably of the quick opening and closing type, but since no novelty is claimed for such closures, it is unnecessary to illustrate them in detail.

Mounted on the shaft 5 are stirring means which, in the example illustrated, take the form of two spiral blades, the two blades being of opposite pitch. Any arrangement which will secure adequate stirring and good distribution throughout the length of the shell I may be used.

To increase the volume of the shell I and limit the development of steam pressure, an expansionchamber i2 is connected by pipe l3 with the shell. A safety valve it, preferably set to blow ofi at about lbs. gauge, is provided. A similar safety valve I5, similarly adjusted, may, if desired, be applied directly to the shell I. A pressure gauge i6 is shown connected toindicate the pressure in the shell I. This is preferably of the recording type to offer better control of the process. Since the pressure in the expansion chamber I2 is anproximately the same as that in the shell I, the gauge It could be applied to the expansion chamber I2 with the same results.

A blow-off pipe I! is connected with the shell I and is controlled by blow-off valve I8 which is closed during the hydration operation. Pipe Il leads to a point outside the building or enclosure in which the shell I is installed.

The tank I9 serves as a water-measuring volume and is provided with water level gauge glass 2 I water supply connection 22, controlled by valve 23, and compressed air supply connection 24 controlled by the valve 25. It is preferred that the valve 25 be of the three-way type, so arranged that in one position it cuts off the supply of compressed air to the tank I5 and vents the tank to atmosphere, and in another position closes the vent and connects the compressed air supply with the tank. The measuring tank I9 is connected through the quick opening gate valve 26 with a manifold 21 which is of substantial crosssectional area and'which extends along and preferably above the shell I. The manifold 21 is connected with the interior of the shell I by a plurality of branches 28.

The sizes of the manifold Y 21, valve 26 and branches 28, are such as to deliver the charge of water into the shell I so rapidly that all the water will be delivered in a very short interval of time. This is important because it is highly desirable to introduce the entire water charge so rapidly that local reactions, resulting in undesirably high local temperatures, will not occur. The tank I9 is of sufilcient volume to contain the desired measured charge of water. The quantity of water is based on the weight of the charge of lime placed in the shell I. Compressed air may be supplied through connection 24 to a pressure of about 90 lbs. gauge, experience having demonstrated that with this pressure and a manifold of practicable size it is possible to introduce the entire charge of water into thev shell I with suflicient rapidity. In charging the apparatus the discharge opening 9 is closed, the valve 26 is closed, and the blow-ofi valve I6 is open. Shell I is charged with dolomitic lime, preferably crushed to in. s ze and smaller, through the opening 8 which is then closed. With the air valve 25 in venting position, the tank 9 is charged with water to the proper level, after which the water valve 23 is closed and the air valve 25 is shifted to subject the water in the tank I9 to a static head of about 90 pounds gauge. The air pressure used isnot important except that it must be suflicient to deliver all the charge in the tank I9 rapidly against any pressure which may develop in shell I during such delivery.

The charge preferably is in the ratio of 100 parts of lime to 47 parts of water by weight. With the shell and the water tank charged, the valve 25 is quickly opened to permit rapid delivery of the entire water charge into the shell, and then closed. At such time the, shaft 4 is rotated to stir the lime and water together. The reaction starts rapidly and develops steam pressure. The steam quickly sweeps the shell I free of air which escapes through the bleed valve I8. As soon as this occurs the valve I8 is closed and the steam pressure rapidly rises in the shell I to about 140 pounds gauge. This corresponds to a saturated steam temperature of approximately 183 C.

The volumes of the shell I and of the expansion chamber I2 are so chosen that under normal conditions the pressure will not rise substantially above the value set, but if it should rise about lbs. above that limit, the safety valve I4 or IE, or both. will open, relieving the excess pressure. Operation of the safety valves is considered undesirable because powdered hydrated lime is carried into the valves and causes some inconvenience.

It has been determined that when hydration of both the calcium and magnesium oxides is completed (and under the pressure and temperature conditions stated this requires between fifteen and twenty minutes) the steam pressure will have fallen to about 80 pounds gauge. The blow-oil valve I8 is then opened to permit the pressure in shell -I to drop to atmospheric. This is attended with the discharge of excess water as steam. When thepressure has been dissipated, the discharge port 9 is opened and the hydrated lime is discharged through the port with the assistance of the spiral conveyor blades II. The resulting hydrate is a powder having a water content of about 26%. The desired result is thus secured in about the time at present required for the hydration of calcium limes by prior art methods. The following values are illustrative:

The raw dolomite used would have about the following composition:

CaCO: 55.20 MgCOa 44.06 $10: 0.46 F6203 0.18 A1203 0.10

The dolomitic lime produced by complete calcination of this dolomite would have the composition:

CaO 58.74 MgO 39.85 510 0.88 A1203 0.34 F8203 0.19

Completely hydrated lime produced from this dolomitic lime would have the composition:

From above it will be apparent that 36.81 parts of water are theoretically required for parts of dolomitic lime (by weight). The amount of water actually added in the hydrating apparatus is 47 parts, so that the method contemplates.

an excess of 28% of water over the quantity theoretically required. Stated differently, the percentage of water required for complete hydration of the basic oxides in dolomitic lime is 26.91%. The amount of water in the hydrated dolomitic lime resulting from the process is 26%. On this basis it appears that the calcium oxide is completely hydrated and 93% of the magnesium oxide is hydrated. The above values are calculated on the assumption of complete calcination of both basic oxides, that is to say, there is assumed to be no carbonate content in the dolomitic lime, and it is assumed that none of the lime or magnesia is combined with silica, alumina or ferric oxide. Since this condition is not en'- countered in practice, it appears that in fact more than 93% of the available magnesium oxide The process requires relatively simple apparatus g 3 trary they are subject to variation within a useand a time period comparable to that commeriul range of considerable extent. The invention cially used heretofore with inferior results in contemplates'a single stage hydration of comparonly partially hydrating dolomitlc limes. atively short duration at elevated temperature I claim: and under steam pressure, the heat for generat- 6 1. The method of hydrating in one treatment ing the steam being supplied by the reaction itboth the calcium oxide and the magnesium oxide self. From one point of view it might be said that constituents oi dolomitic lime which comprises the hydration reaction of the calcium oxide conreacting such lime with a quantity of water in a stituent provides the heat which generates the closed. volume, the water being so rapidly introsteam for steam hydration of the magnesium duced and mixed with the lime as substantially oxide constituent. However, the eilects are into suppress local intense reactions, and the quanterrelated and it is impossible and unnecessary tity of water and the volume being o chosen to attempt to segregate them. The important that the heat of reaction develops a maximum thing is that a single stage hydration of dolosteam pressure of about 140 pounds per square mitic lime is secured and is so nearly complete inch gauge; continuing the reaction while stiras to be satisfactory for the highest commercial ring the lime and water together until the steam. requirements. In any event it is very decidedly pressure falls to about 80 pounds per square inch better than results secured with any prior art gauge; and then venting said, volume rapidly. single stage process now known. 2. The method of hydrating the calcium and The invention contemplates a reasonably ac-v magnesium oxide constituents of dolomitic lime curate balance between the quantity of lime and which comprise causing the lime to react with the quantity of water used. The attainment of water in a closed volume, the water being so the desired temperature and pressure is dependr p d introduced an mix d W th e li as ent on the use of a suitable volume within the substantially to suppress local intense reactions, confining structure in which the reaction takes and the q antity f W ter b in 50 r l d o the place. quantity of lime that the water is substantially The purpose of stating the particular values in excess of the quantity theoretically required above set forth is to describe in detail the best for complete hydration, and not more than can known way in which the invention may be pracbe vaporized by the heat of reaction, and the ticed. This does not imply any necessary limitaclosed volume being such relatively to the lime tion to these particular values, which are preand water that a steam pressure and temperaferred for commercial purposes because they ture sufficient to ensure hydration of the magare easily attained, produce a hydrated lime for nesium oxide constituent is attained as a result use in plaster which has good working qualities, of the reaction such pressure being of the order and which-is generally available for other pllrof 140 pounds per sq. in. gauge; causing the reposes. The process can be carried out at lower action to continue for a period of the order of temperatures and pressures where a longer, time twenty minutes, and then venting the volume to i of reaction or a lower degree of hydration, either discharge excess water as steam and thus bring or both, can be tolerated. Higher temperatures the hydrated lime to a substantially dry state. and pressures can be used, particularly where the 3. The method of hydrating in one treatment resulting product need not have particular flnishboth the calcium oxide and the magnesium oxide ing properties,'such as are required whenit is constituents of dolomitic lime which comprises to be used in plaster. While the ranges sugactively mixing such lime with an entire charge gested are believed to be particularly desirable of water in a closed volume, the quantity of for limes to be used in plaster, they are 'not criti- 55 water making up the charge exceeding by the cal even in that field. order of 25 to 30% the amount theoretically re- The invention contemplates that dolomitic quired for the complete hydration of the lime and lime and a quantity of water, some 25 to 30% the closed volume beingsochosen that the heat of in excess of the theoretical requirements for reaction develops a steam pressure of about 140 complete hydration of the magnesium oxide and pounds per sq. in. gauge, continuing the reaction calcium oxide content of the lime, .are rapidly until the steam pressure falls to the order of 80 mixed in a closed volume such as to insure the pounds per sq. in. gauge, then venting the volume development of 'a steam pressure, preferably of to discharge the excess water in the vapor phase, the order of 140 lbs. gauge. Commercially comto obtain in a period of the order of 20 minutes a plete hydration will then occur in twenty minutes substantia ly y hy r in wh h Ov r or less and will normally be indicated by a pres: the magnesium oxide is hydrated. sure drop to about 80 lbs. per sq. in. gauge. 4. The method of producing by one treatment The purpose of opening the blow-ofi valve is to a hydrated lime commercially free of grainy relieve the pressure rapidly and to insure the structure, from dolomitic lime, which comprises evaporation and discharge of excess water. The mixinga char e of lime and an entire charge quantity of water, provided it be moderately in of water in a-closed volume so rapidly that local excess of that necessary for complete hydration, reactions more intense than the general average is not vitally important. The required quantity are substantially suppressed, the quantities of will depend somewhat on the nature of the lime, water and lime and the volume being so chosen and an undue excess of water has chiefiy the that the heat of reaction vaporizes the water and disadvantage of a moist or wet hydrate. develops a pressure of the order of 140 pounds The important aspect of the invention is that p Sq inch gauge, 8111330161113 130 accelerate yit provides a single stage hydration which occurs dration of the magnesium oxide content of the in a reasonable time and for which all the neceslime and insufllcient to impair the working q sary heat is developed by the hydration reaction. hydrateties of the resulting WILLIAM D. GARVIN. 

